Babylonian religion and mythology . kept in its place, so that itmight not break through and flood the earth. On theunder side of the dome the stars had their coursesand the Moon-god his path. In the dome, moreover,were two gates, one in the east and the other in thewest, for the use of Shamash, the Sun-god, who everyday journeyed from one to the other across the from behind the dome of heaven, he passedthrough the eastern gate, and, stepping out upon theMountain of the Sunrise at the edge of the world,he began his journey across the sky. In the eveninghe came to the Mountain of t
Babylonian religion and mythology . kept in its place, so that itmight not break through and flood the earth. On theunder side of the dome the stars had their coursesand the Moon-god his path. In the dome, moreover,were two gates, one in the east and the other in thewest, for the use of Shamash, the Sun-god, who everyday journeyed from one to the other across the from behind the dome of heaven, he passedthrough the eastern gate, and, stepping out upon theMountain of the Sunrise at the edge of the world,he began his journey across the sky. In the eveninghe came to the Mountain of the Sunset, and, steppingupon it, he passed through the western gate of heaven 1 See below, p. 55. 32 THE PATH OF THE SUN-GOD. and disappeared from the sight of men. Accordingto one tradition he made his daily journey across thesky in a chariot, which was drawn by two fiery representations on cylinder-seals, however, he isgenerally shown making his journey on foot. In theaccompanying illustration Shamash is seen appearing. Shamash, the Sun-god, coming forth through the eastern door of heaven. (Froma cylinder-seal in the British Museum, No. 89,110.) above the horizon of the world, as he enters the skythrough the eastern gate of heaven. In the following hymn, addressed to the Rising Sun,a reference is made to Shamash entering the worldthrough the eastern gate of heaven :— 0 Shamash, on the foundation of heaven thou hastflamed forth. Thou hast unbarred the bright heavens, Thou hast opened the portals of the sky. 0 Shamash, thou hast raised thy head over the land. 0 Shamash, thou hast covered the lands with thebrightness of heaven. THE GATES OF HEAVEN. 33 Another hymn, addressed to the Setting Sun, con-tains a reference to the return of Shamash into theinterior of heaven :— 0 Shamash, when thou enterest into the midst of heaven, The gate-bolt of the bright heavens shall give thee greeting, The doors of heaven shall bless righteousness of thy beloved servant sh
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